When I was twelve years old my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. After a
mastectomy and chemotherapy she beat the disease and was cancer-free for eight
and a half years. She had a recurrence of the same breast cancer that
metastasized in her brain, lungs, liver, kidney and intestine. Through out her
second round of treatment everything seemed to be the same to me; the same
doctors, the same hospital the same chemo and the same results. One thing stuck
out in my mind though as very different: there was always an abundance of
blueberries in our refrigerator. Everyone knows that there are ads and studies
all over the internet proving that some kind of organic compound or a certain
kind of healing treatment can cure cancer; blueberries are no different. It
seems logical that blueberries can help keep you healthy. From the time we are
young we are told that fruits and vegetables are good for your health and keep
you from getting sick, but can they keep you from getting cancer? Can they help
you stop the spread of cancer cells? Can they cure cancer? My mother
beat her cancer for a second time, and while I am prone to think that intense
chemotherapy had something to do with it, the stack of blueberries that is
still in our refrigerator make me wonder that maybe there is some truth to the
myth.

Frank went to the doctor one day with a stomach ache. When he left he had two
months to live. Frank’s body was filled with cancer cells and tumors. Frank
heard that there were cancer-preventative compounds in blueberries, which he
happened to love. He ate nothing but blueberries, over 100 quarts of them, and
continued to do so every year. Frank lived for another thirty years and claimed
that the blueberries cured his cancer (http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/cancer1/success/frank.htm).

Cancer is one of those mysteries in medicine. We know that it comes in all
shapes in sizes and can affect almost any part of the body and we all know how
dangerous and fatal it can be. Modern medicine has yet to identify exactly what
causes cancer or a permanent treatment. However, we do know how to slow the
rapidly spreading cancer cells and how cancer grows. An article from News
Target explains that cancer is caused when a carcinogen (cancer-causing agent)
causes DNA damage which in turn causes cell to mutate. In most cases the
carcinogen is a free radical. Free radicals are chemical elements that have an
unpaired electron in their outermost electron shell, making them very unstable
elements. They attack cells and DNA strands causing oxidative stress and
eventually mutated cells and cancer. (http://www.newstarget.com/z006993.html).

It seems impossible that a small blue fruit can have the same capacity as some
of the world’s strongest known drugs, but studies have shown that blueberries
are among some of the healthiest foods. They are rich in Vitamins C and E,
manganese and dietary fibers, while maintaining a low calorie count.

Aside from their great nutritional value, blueberries might contain
cancer-fighting nutrients. The World’s Healthiest Foods claims that blueberries
were ranked the highest out of 60 fruits and vegetables, as having the highest
capacity to destroy free radicals. “Packed with antioxidant phytonutrients
called anthocyanidins, blueberries neutralize free radical damage to the
collagen matrix of cells and tissues that can lead to…cancer” (http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=8).
They supposedly prevent the damage free radicals can cause. It is thought that
because blueberries contain such strong antioxidants, they could play a role in
controlling the proliferation of cancer cells and control free radicals.

There is no disagreement
that blueberries are healthy and contain antioxidants and there has not been
any contradicting evidence that blueberries can help prevent cancer. Generally,
blueberries have been thought to help slow the spread of cancer cells and
eliminate free radicals. While many sources agree that blueberries do contain
antioxidants, there are several theories as to which compounds within the fruit
are actually the antioxidants agent or agents. The World’s Healthiest Foods
claims that the cancer preventing agents are anthocyanidins, pterostilbene,
ellagic acid and phenolic compounds. An article from Vital Choices claims that
it’s the polyphenol pigment in blueberries (caused by anthocyanins) that is the
cancer-preventing agent. (http://www.imakenews.com/vitalchoiceseafood/e_article000402721.cfm?x=b4V1KpQ,b2Jwwny2,w)
Yet another source, News Target, says that blueberries contain phytochemicals
and flavenoids that make blueberries an antioxidant. (http://www.newstarget.com/z001505.html).
Finally, the Wellness Directory of Minnesota says that blueberries contain
resveratrol and ellagic acids that give them their cancer-fighting properties.
(http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/cancer1/success/frank.htm).
Although many sources assert that different compounds are the antioxidant
agent, they are all compounds or forms of the same four agents: anthocyanidins,
ellagic acid, phenolic compounds, and reservatrol. Not a single source on
blueberries denies the possibility of potential cancer cures; however, there
doesn’t seem to be a consensus among sources and scholars about how
blueberries prevent cancer. If cancer patients eat only blueberries, like Frank
did, will they be cured? Do blueberries prevent all kinds of cancer? To find
this information and verify what these sources claim, we need to look towards
empirical evidence and medical studies.

The amount of information available on this “miracle fruit” is abundant and all
seem to point towards the same conclusions; that there are a number of antioxidants
in blueberries and that they do in fact help prevent cancer as well as reduce
the number of free radicals. According to Zheng and Wang’s (2003) study,
blueberries have one of the highest levels of antioxidant activity which helps
neutralize free radicals. Dunlap, Reynolds and Duffy (2006) performed a study
in which they looked at how blueberries help eliminate oxidants in sled dogs.
They said that exercise can contribute to oxidative stress which in turn can
increase the number of free radicals in one’s body. To explore this concept
they used Alaskan sled dogs and supplemented their daily diet with blueberries
to see if exercised induced oxidation could be prevented. The dogs were divided
into three groups; a control group, a running group (which did not receive
blueberries) and a blueberry group (whose diet was supplemented with
blueberries). The results showed that the dogs who did receive the blueberry
supplemented diets had much higher antioxidant content in their blood. Dunlap,
Reynolds and Duffy (2006) concluded that blueberries do actually increase
antioxidant levels.

This may work for dogs, but what about humans? Do the same rules apply?
Schmidt, Erdman ad Lila (2005)looked at the polyphenolic compounds in
blueberries and the effect they might have on prostate cancer cell lines. They
looked at the compound proanthocyanidin and examined how this inhibited the
growth of two different prostate cancer cell lines. They found that certain
proportions of proanthocyanidin had an effect on some androgen-dependent cancel
cell lines and even inhibited cell growth to 11% of the experimental control.
Schmidt, Erdman and Lila showed that blueberries can effect cancer growth, but
only in specific cases with specific cancer cell lines. After the study Dr.
Lila reported that “the results were very positive, adding evidence to a
growing body of work coming out of our lab investigating Wild Blueberry
fractions and their cancer-fighting properties at all stages: initiation,
promotion and proliferation. Wild Blueberry compounds offer a multi-pronged
attack against cancer” (http://www.imakenews.com/vitalchoiceseafood/e_article000402721.cfm?x=b4V1KpQ,b2Jwwny2,w).
Yi, Fischer, Krewer and Akoh (2005)went further with Lila’s idea and
tested the effects of blueberries on colon cancer. They looked at phenolic
acids, tannins, flavonols and anthocyanins in blueberries and assessed how
these compounds prevent the spread of colon cancer cells. Their results showed
that flavonol and tannin fractions reduced the spread of cancer cells by 50%
and that phenolic acids were slightly less successful, but still prevented the
growth of the cancer cells. Of all four compounds, anthocyanin fractions
produced the best result by preventing the spread of cancer cells by over 50%
using low concentrations of the compound. Ultimately the study concluded that
there are several compounds found in blueberries that do prevent the spread of
colon cancer cells. Yi, Fisher, Krewer and Akoh (2006)conducted another
study the next year under the same premises and techniques and found that
blueberries prevent the spread of liver cancer cells as well. This suggests
that blueberries may prevent the spread of almost all kinds of cancer.

We have seen from multiple studies that the compounds in blueberries can
prevent the spread of cancer cells, but can these same compounds actually cure
cancer? Could there be some truth to Frank’s story? In order for cancer cells
to be destroyed, cell death, called apoptosis, needs to occur. Yi, Fisher,
Krewer and Akoh (2005) explain that in a healthy body, cell growth and cell
apoptosis (death) can occur and very similar rates and balance each other out.
However, when a tumor develops, cell growth happens more than cell apoptosis
which helps promote the growth of cancer cells. They claim that even small
changes in this balance by promoting cell apoptosis can help maintain a healthy
balance and can decrease the progression of cancer cells. Therefore, to help
cure cancer, you need cell apoptosis to put the balance of cell growth and
death back in balance. Yi, Akoh, Fischer and Krewer (2006)looked at the
compound in blueberries and how it affects cell apoptosis. Their study showed
that anthocyanin can actually increase DNA fragmentation by two to four times
the normal amount which results in the induction of cell apoptosis. Essentially
Yi, Akoh, Fischer and Krewer (2006) found that anthocyanin compounds in
blueberries not only prevent the spread of cancer cells like the other three
compounds, but they actually increase the amount of cancer cell death.

There seems to be a comprehensive agreement among varying sources that
blueberries prevent the growth of cancer cells. The National Cancer Institute
has even said that research has shown that the compounds in blueberries help
protect against cancer (Wedge et al, 2001). This is not to say that if you eat
blueberries every day you will be safe from cancer, but it does show that there
are some natural compounds that can help protect you. Blueberries can help
prevent the initiation of cancer by destroying free radicals, the proliferation
of cancer by controlling the growth of cancer cells and the reduction of cancer
cells through cell apoptosis. With more research and understanding cancer
preventative measures we will be able to see just how much truth there is in
Frank’s story and maybe one day will be able to prevent cancer all together
with natural compounds and a healthy diet. Essentially, your mother was
right…eat your fruits and vegetables, they can make you healthy.